Backcourt injuries allow Travon Broadway to see increased minutes, leading to breaktout performances
Travon Broadway Jr. started the first seven games of the season, scoring in double figures three times. In his first game with Central Michigan, a 102-62 victory over Michigan-Dearborn, he scored 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting.
However, starting with a triumph over Youngstown State on Nov. 30, Broadway had been relegated to a bench role due to the emergence of senior guard Dallas Morgan. Though he came off the bench in eight consecutive games, his minutes never dipped below his average 22.3 minutes per game.
When senior guard Kevin McKay went down due to injury, Broadway started four consecutive games, averaging nine points per contest. McKay's return sent him back to the bench, but a recent injury to Devontae Lane paired with Morgan suffering from an illness has brought Broadway back into the starting five.
In his last two games, Broadway has shown signs of taking the next step as a consistent scorer. Billed as a defensive standout because of his lengthy frame, Broadway has demonstrated an ability to score at a consistent clip. Central Michigan's last two games, losses to Eastern Michigan and Akron, have featured Broadway scoring 17 points, matching his season-high.
"I think he's just starting to show signs of what he can do," coach Keno Davis said of Broadway. "If the injuries did anything for us positively, (they) gave him more of an opportunity to be in a more dominant role and I think now, going forward, he's able to use some of that confidence, both on the defensive end and the offensive end."
Broadway made just one triple in the six games prior to the Eastern Michigan matchup, shooting 1-for-10. However, the increased role against the Eagles allowed him to thrive. That matchup against Eastern Michigan saw him play a season-high 36:15.
Friday night's game against Akron saw both Lane and Morgan return to action, however, Broadway still went for 17 points. He remained in the starting lineup, with both Lane and Morgan coming off the bench. In the 80-67 loss, Broadway shot 3-of-7 from beyond the arc and 7-of-12 overall.
In addition to tying his season-high, Broadway grabbed five rebounds and had both an assist and a steal. On the season, he's averaging 8.1 points per game on 42-percent shooting. He's also averaging 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists.
If the Chippewas' last two losses have had any bright spot, it's been the performance of Broadway. His continued production is pivotal to Central Michigan's success over the course of the rest of the season.
